Online Notary in California: Notarize Documents by Secure Video
California passed Remote Online Notarization legislation (SB 696) in 2023, but the program is not yet operational. Here's what you can use instead today — including our in-person mobile notary serving Los Angeles.
Reviewed by Chelsea Rivera, Founder & Commissioned Notary Public. Eligibility, retention rules, and accepted document types vary by state and by receiving party.
Is online notarization legal in California?
Not yet operational. California enacted SB 696 in 2023, but the implementing regulations and Secretary of State infrastructure are still being built; California-commissioned notaries cannot currently perform online notarizations.
Governing law: Cal. Gov't Code § 8231.6 et seq. (added by SB 696, 2023)
Fee rule
California has not yet set the maximum fee for an online notarial act. Until the Secretary of State publishes the implementing regulations, no California-commissioned online notary may charge a Californian for a remote online notarization.
Identification
California's online notarization statute will require credential analysis plus dynamic knowledge-based authentication. Until SB 696 is in force, California signers needing a notarization must either sign in person with a California notary or use an out-of-state online notary commissioned in a state where RON is operational.
Witnesses
California has not yet authorized remote witnessing. Documents that require witnesses (e.g., a will or an advance health-care directive) must be signed in person.
Recipient acceptance
Until California's RON program is operational, your safest path is an in-person notarization with a California-commissioned notary. If you receive an online notarization from a notary commissioned in another state (e.g., Texas or Florida), a California recipient may or may not accept it — confirm before signing.
How an online notarization works in California
Tell us what you need
Text us the document and your California signing context. We'll confirm whether it's RON-eligible.
Verify your identity
Have your government-issued photo ID ready. We'll run credential analysis + KBA.
Connect via secure video
A RON-state online notary witnesses you sign.
Download your document
Receive the notarized document with a tamper-evident audit trail.
What you'll need
Device with camera
Computer, tablet, or smartphone with working camera and microphone
Stable internet
Broadband or strong WiFi for an uninterrupted video session
Photo ID
Driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID
Document
PDF or Word file you need notarized
Documents that may not qualify in California
Online notarization isn't right for everything. Review the list below and contact us if you're unsure.
- •All documents are currently outside the scope of California-commissioned online notarization until the SB 696 regulations take effect.
- •Many documents California signers ultimately need recorded with a county recorder will require a paper original with a wet-ink notary stamp.
Trust & verification
How our trust claims are backed up — with a link so you can verify each one yourself before booking your California online notarization.
How our notaries are vetted
Before a notary takes a single signing for us, we verify each of the items below. Renewals are tracked so coverage never lapses mid-assignment.
- 01
State commission verification
We confirm every notary holds an active commission with their state's commissioning authority before they take a single signing.
- 02
Background check provider & cadence
All notaries are screened by an accredited background check provider at onboarding and re-screened periodically per NNA-aligned standards.
- 03
$1M E&O insurance
Every notarization is backed by $1,000,000 in errors & omissions insurance, well above the typical $25K–$100K minimums most notaries carry.
- 04
Surety bond per state
Each notary carries the surety bond their state requires (amounts vary — for example California requires $15,000) so the public has a financial remedy if a notarial duty is breached.
- 05
NNA certification
All notaries are NNA Certified — they have passed the National Notary Association's certification exam and follow its Code of Professional Responsibility.
- 06
Ongoing training
Notaries in our network complete annual continuing-education refreshers covering statute updates, document categories (POA, deeds, loan signings, apostilles), and identity-fraud red flags so practice keeps pace with current law.
- 07
Renewal cadence
Commissions, bonds, E&O, and background checks are tracked on a calendar so renewals never lapse mid-assignment.
Every trust claim — with a proof link
Each headline trust claim we make on the site is paired with a link you can use to verify it independently.
NNA Certified Notaries
Every notary in our network completes the National Notary Association's certification course and exam.
$1M Errors & Omissions Insurance
Each notarization is backed by $1,000,000 in professional E&O coverage so you're protected if a mistake is made.
Background Checked
All notaries pass a criminal background screening before joining our network and are re-screened on a recurring cadence.
Bonded in Every State We Serve
Each commissioned notary carries the surety bond required by their state — protection for the public if a notarial duty is breached.
5-Star Rated Service
Independently rated 5 stars by clients across the five cities we serve. We do not edit or filter our reviews.
Verified Local Business
Listed under our legal entity, Notary On Demand LLC, on a public business directory so you can confirm we're a real, registered company.
Led by a Commissioned Notary
Founder Chelsea Rivera is a commissioned notary public with 10+ years of hands-on signing experience.
Verify on LinkedIn
California online notarization FAQs
Prefer in-person?
Book a mobile notary who comes to you in Los Angeles
Online notarization isn't always allowed for wills, deeds, or hospital signings. Our Los Angeles mobile notary team is available 24/7.
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We'll help you find the right notarization path under California law — online if eligible, or in person if not.
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